Telephone time-signal apparatus



(No Model.)

H; B. LYT-LE & J. J. OARTY.

TELEPHONE TIME SIGNAL APPARATUS No. 299,562. Patented June 3, 1884.

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UNITED STATss PATENT FFICE.

HENRY B. LYTLE AND JOHN J. OARTY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEPHONE TIME-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIIZICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,562, dated June 3, 1884,

Application filed J anuary' 16, 1884. (No model.)

ceiving-instrument of the telephone subscrib er, but the minute referred to by such timesignal is also identified, so that each minute in the day the time is given, and by a special operation, effected by a special instrumentality, is also separately signaled.

In Letters Patent No. 287,710, issued to John M. Oram, and dated October 30, 1883, a system of telephone-signaling is shown and de scribed in which a single clock is caused to close a circuit, or otherwise make a mechanical adjustment, for every hour and minute of the day, which adjustment sets in motion a repeating device adapted to transmit signals representing the hour and minute by alternately closing and opening the circuit of a battery included in the common ground-wire of anumber of line-circuits. The signals trans mitted are, according to said patent, first, a number of strokes to represent the hour, these being, say, a period of two seconds apart; secondly, a number of strokes, say, one second apart, to represent the tens of minutes; and, lastly, a number of strokes,say, two-thirds of a second apart, to represent the unit minutes. Thus a signal intended to represent the time of fifty-three minutes past ten would be sent in the following manner: ten beats at intervals apart of two seconds, a pause; then five beats at intervals of one second apart, a second pause; and finally three beats at intervals of two-thirds of a second.

Our invention is an improvement upon the said invention of Oram, and is designed to designate closer the precise minute thus described. It is obvious that a comparatively long period of time must elapse while the timesignal is being actually transmitted, and this is particularly the case when the signal is in its nature a long one.

Take, for example, th

time-signal for fifty-eight minutes past ten, the entire time occupied in transmitting such a signal upon the foregoing schedule, allowing between the different classes of beats a pause of three seconds, would be thirty-nine seconds and two-thirds. Therefore, whether such a signal is struck before or after the minute, it becomes doubtful to the listener when the exact time of the minute is. Inasmuch as each complete signal is of different length to the one immediately preceding or following, it is the signal, while, as the time to be struck is unknown until the completion of the signal, it would be manifestly improper to establish a rule that the time struck occurs at the commencement of the signal, since in some cases half a minute would elapse before the signal was completed and the minute known.

To meet this want is the object of our invention, and the said invention, broadly stated, consists in combining with the regular instrumentalities for transmitting the time a circuitcontrolling device adapted to give a special signal exactly on the minute,so that the special signal, which must be of a short yet distinct character, shall be given, preceded by the defining or designating signal. Thus, to strike twenty-three minutes past three, the signal transmitted would be three beats for thehour, two for the tens of minutes, and three for the units of the minutes, followed after a short pause by the special signal, the regular number designating the minute to come, and the special signal denoting the arrival of the minute just designated. The short signal which we have adopted is produced by closing a branch circuit to the line from the battery through a vibratory circuit-closer. This we accomplish by means of an electro-magnet in the controlling-clock circuit. The same electro-magnet may be used to release the repeating mechanism, and the same movement of the controlling-clock that closes the circuit of the electro-magnet to produce the special signal will then also serve to release the repeating -mechanism for the next revolution, whereby the designating signal of the next minute is to be given.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the obviously impossible to decide that the minute lapses immediately upon the conclusion of 65 repeating mechanism and controllingclock furnished with the auxiliary device for producing the special circuit arrangement which is designed to effect the desired result.

The term repeater or repeating device, as used in this specification, implies an organization of electrical apparatus and circuits, whereby electrical changes or impulses passing in or traversing a circuit may be reproduced upon other circuits without change in form or character.

The repeating mechanism consists, as fully described, in the patent of Oram hereinbefore cited, of a rotatable cylinder or drum, R, provided with pins or studs 1?, corresponding to the hours and to the tens and unit minutes. The several groups of pins, of which the units only are shown, the tens and hours being supposed to have passed roun'd,are adapted to engage in their rotation with the heels h of the several circuit-closers c. The two sets of pins which have passed round-13. e.,.the hour and the ten-minute pins-are adapted to engage, respectively, with the circuit-closing levers c and 0, while the pins P, representing the unit minutes, are arranged to engage with the heel h of the circuit-closing lever c.

As shown in the diagram Fig. 2, the several circuit-closers c consist each of a spring-lever pivoted on the axis 1). The heel h of each lever forms a bearing for the said axis, and a pin projecting downward from the bar a is adapted to move the circuit-closers along to correspond with the changing time. The main part of the lever c is provided at its end with a weight, 2, tipped with a curved contactspring, :0. A contact-anvil, e, in circuit with a terminal wire, L, common to a group of linewires, 1, radiating to outstations provided with telephones T, is arranged just below the several circuit closing contact springs, 00, which are normally maintained out of contact therewith by the curved spring a, which is permanently attached to the main post, and which presses on the non-conducting base 0 of the anvil c. The additional circuit-closer c is operated by the same mechanism as the others, but is insulated therefrom. It has also a separate anvil, e, to fall upon, the said anvil being also insulated from the base, and electrically connected with the common terminalwire Z, of a number of wires which are not to be supplied with time. This circuit-closer is continuously operated during the transmission of a time-signal by the single series of pins 1?, and the object of this operation is to send during the transmission of a time-signal over the required lines a confusing-signal over such lines as are not designed to receive the time, inasmuch as such lines would otherwise in many cases receive the time by induction.

The foregoing description has merely been explanatory, and forms no part of the invention which we seek to protect, except as in combination with what we shall hereinafter describe.

The entire apparatus is adapted to be driven by an electromotor, m, operated by aseparate battery, to which the wires w w lead. The motor is provided with a shaft, which rotates in bearings d, and may be constantly in operation, but does not rotate the repeating mechanism continuously. Exactly upon the occurrence of the minute-stroke the clock Ois caused to close the circuit of the starting-magnet M, which of course is provided with a battery, (not shown,) and the magnet thereupon be comes energized and attracts its armature y. The armature is arranged to engage the rod J, and carries it forward, compressing the spiral r. The rod J is thus caused to release the mechanism by the withdrawal of the hook it from the disk q, and simultaneously to connect the mechanism with the revolving motor by means of the extension 2', which pushes the clutch i: into position to act upon the leg 1). The cylinder It of the repeating mechanism is thus caused to participatein the motion of the motor. After each complete revolution of the said cylinder 1%, the spiral spring 1- contracts, causing the hook it on the extremity of the bent rodj to fall into a notch on the face of the disk q, thus disengaging the lug and clutch '0 and 1;, so as to prevent the transmission of motion from the motor to the cylinder from being continued. Simultaneously the hook it engages the disk q, thus locking the cylinder and preventing further motion until the former conditions are again restored by the action of magnet H.

The armature of the electro-magnet M is lit ted with a long and slender spring, 8, and this spring, when the armature is attracted,is adapt ed to make contact with an adjustable contactpoint, carried upon a suitable standard and insulated from the frame B. The base B and armature y are connected with the battery E and ground by a wire, I, and the contact-point ,1. is, by a short-circuiting wire, 2, connected with the common extension of the main lines at a point just outside the anvil c. The office of these devices is to close a short circuit round the circuit-closers c exactly on the minute through a vibratory contact, so that the battery E may be momentarily put in contact with the lines through the said vibratory contact, and thereby produce a sharp rattling signal, lasting but for a moment, denoting the exact minute which has just been designated or which is next to be designated, as predetermined. It is obvious that the contact formed by the armature-spring 8 upon the point I; is eminently adapted to produce sueha signal, as, owing to the elasticity and flexibility of the spring, it will vibrate for an instant before it rests solidly upon the point, and make a chatterin g contact before it closes the circuit firmly. The circuit-connections are more clearly indicated in Fig. 2, where O is the controllingclock, connecting by wires f with the startingmagnet M. This magnet is energized once a minute, and thereupon starts the repeating mechanism and makes contact between the spring 8 and point t. The armature 3 and base IIO B are shown as connected by wire I with the battery and ground and the pin 15 by the wire 2 with the line L.

In the operation of these devices, let it be understood that a designating-signal by the impingement of the cylinder-pins with the circuit-closers c has just been given, and that the repeating mechanism has arrived at its stopping-point and by the action of the spring 0 been thrown out of gear. The designatingsignal just transmitted was, say, 9.59, and has been given in advancethat is to say, the mechanism is so arranged that the designating-signal whenever given refers to the following minute. When, now, it is 9.59 precisely by the clock 0, the circuit of the magnet M is closed by the said clock, the magnet M is made attractiveand attracts its armature y, which, advancing, simultaneously brings the spring 8 into contact with the point t, and also causes the rod J to compress the spring 1, to release the mechanism, and to throw the said mechanism into gear with the motor. The contact of the springs and point t,being vibratory,throws a momentary chattering pulsation of electricity from the battery E by Wire 2 to the line Z, and this signal denotes the precise occurrence of the minute which has already been designated. The mechanism is also by the operation above described set in motion for the next designatingsignal, and so on ad Zz'bitmn.

The application of this special signaling device adds much to the commercial value of the time reporting or distributing system for telephone-eXchanges, as it enables those interested in the knowledge of exact time to obtain it with a much greater degree of accuracy than heretofore.

WVe do not 'herein claim the application of devices adapted to send a confusing-signal over lines which are not to be supplied, as we have claimed that invention in a separate application filed of even date herewith. \Ve do not, moreover, confine ourselves to the precise devices and circuit arrangements shown and described herein, since it is evident that they may be greatly varied in detail without departing fromthe spirit of our invention; but

IVhat we do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, in a telephone time-repeating system, of a controlling-clock, arepeating mechanism controlled thereby and acting to transmit a designating time-signal to a number of telephone-lines, and a short-circuiting relay adapted to short-circuit the repeating mechan ism and send avibratory current to line to indicate the precise occurrence of the designatingtime.

2. In a telephone time-distributing system, the combination of a repeating mechanism adapted to transmit successive currents to a number of telephone-lines to indicate the designating-signal of each minute, with means, substantially as indicated, for sending a special momentary vibratory signal over the said following the said signal, an electro-magnet actuating simultaneously the starting and signaling devices, and a controlling-clock adapted to energize the said electro-magnet, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In combination with a group of telephonelines leading to sub-stations, and provided with receiving-instruments at said sub-stations, circuit-closing devices adapted, as described, to transmit to the said lines successively electrical pulsations representing the hour and minute, a source of electricity for supplying electricity therefor, and means for sending a signal to denote the precise occurrence of the designated minute, said means consisting of an electro-magnet, a circuit-closer operated thereby, and circuit-connections leading from the said source of electricity to a point connected with the main lines outside of the designating circuit-closers, substantially as specified.

5. In a telephone time-signal distributing system, the combination, substantially as hercinbefore described, of a repeating mechanism of the character indicated and normally at rest, a group of telephone-circuits connected therewith by a common Wire, and an electric battery with a controlling-clock, an electromagnet adapted to be energized periodically by the action. of said clock, devices operated by the armature of said magnet to start the said repeating mechanism, and a normallyopen short circuit from said battery to the common terminal wire of said telephone-lines adapted to be closed upon the energization of said electro-magnet, and thereupon to momentarily closethe circuit of said battery directly to line, and to produce a short vibratory signal in the receiving-instruments of said lines.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of December, 1883.

' HENRY B. LYTLE.

JOHN J. GARTY.

Witnesses:

GEO. WILLIs PIERCE, D. E. RICHARDS. 

